(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
MLB athletes are extremely competitive.
They are already excellent at their craft, but are always looking to get better.
Well, at least most of them.
It’s the nature of the game, though: you have to be two steps ahead of everybody else just to keep your roster spot.
We already saw how Minnesota Twins starter Pablo Lopez increased his fastball velocity, spin efficiency, and developed a “sweeper”.
We also saw Clarke Schmidt of the New York Yankees develop a new cutter.
Now, Los Angeles Dodgers ace Julio Urias is following in Schmidt’s steps.
Urías said he’d been tinkering with the new cutter and was feeling good with how it was feeling coming out of his hand. Tonight was his first time using it in a game. https://t.co/DgpzAxNwQH
— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) March 31, 2023
When a hurler uses a specific new pitch in a game, you can pretty much say he already feels confident not only with the speed and movement profile, but also with the command of the pitch.
That’s actually one of the most important parts: controlling the pitch.
In the end, Urias’ Opening Day start against the Arizona Diamondbacks went well.
He pitched six innings and allowed four hits and two earned runs.
He struck out six rivals and threw 79 pitches, 57 of them in the strike zone.
Overall, it was a very nice debut game for the southpaw, who is expected to lead the Dodgers’ rotation together with fellow lefty Clayton Kershaw.
Urias already throws an excellent fastball, a nice “slurve” with lots of movement, and a changeup.
If he can master the cutter, he will give hitters fits with a different look, further complicating at-bats for them.
Urias is determined to keep improving, with the help of a very good team and some excellent coaches.
The post Julio Urias Debuted A Special New Pitch On Opening Day appeared first on The Cold Wire.